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Equality 7-2521 In Ayn Rand's Anthem

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Since we all have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proposition of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness (Romans 12:6-8). In Anthem, written by Ayn Rand is written as the diary of Equality 7-2521, a young man living in a future in which people have lost all knowledge of individualism, to the point of not even knowing words like 'I' or 'mine'. When he is assigned to a menial job cleaning the streets, Equality 7-2521 rebels against collectivism by conducting secret scientific research, which eventually leads him to …show more content…
“We have lied to ourselves,” he says. “We have not built this box for the good of our brothers”(85). Equality begins to realizes that his own thought is not a crime or a sin, they are gifts that set him apart from other people. When Equality discovered the electric light he was aware that it could benefit his brothers, but he was still cautious about anyone seeing it. In Anthem Equality does not just fear his brothers telling of him, he fears that they would take all the credit. “Our discovery is too great for us to waste our time in sweeping the streets”(60). If he were to work with his brothers with his discovery he would not have all the credit, and he will not get as much attention as an individual. Equality 7-2521 yearns for knowledge and to become a true leader for his …show more content…
In his new world people will be able to use free thought and have their own will. “And my home will become the capital of a world where each man will be free to exist for his own sake”(104). People in his new world will do what they please for the good of humanity. Each man will live for what they choose to believe in, this does not necessarily mean that there will not be people who are against free thought. “And all my brothers, and councils of my brothers, will hear of it, but they will be impotent against him”(104). He is challenging the people, whom are against this new world he his talking about. He will have his chosen friends by his side to fight for the new world that their sons live

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